Colombia to host the 2025 Global Land Forum

A Global Milestone for Land Rights

The ILC is a global alliance of over 300 civil society and intergovernmental organizations. It focuses on securing land rights for those who live on and from the land—especially rural communities, women, and Indigenous peoples.

Why Colombia?

Colombia is a relevant location for this event. It is the second most biodiverse country in the world, and 41.8% of its territory is in the Amazon region. At the same time, the country is advancing a comprehensive Agrarian Reform aimed at reducing inequality and strengthening rural development as part of its peacebuilding efforts.

“This Forum is a chance for Colombia to show its leadership on Agrarian Reform and share a strong message on the importance of fair land distribution and sustainable land use,” said Martha Carvajalino Villegas, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Colombia also faces serious challenges such as land concentration, territorial conflicts, and environmental degradation. To address these, the government has launched a national plan focused on agrarian reform and inclusive dialogue—recognizing that land is not just a resource, but essential to justice, peace, and sustainability.

A Space for Action and Dialogue

The Forum will include field visits across Colombia, where participants can see the work of communities and organizations promoting fair and sustainable land governance.

Two thematic forums will take place before the main event—one focused on youth, and another on Indigenous land rights. The second will be the first Global Indigenous Land Forum organized by an Indigenous community, bringing together leaders from around the world to share experiences and strategies.

The opening day of the Forum will highlight Colombia and Latin America, with speakers from government, Indigenous organizations, and social movements. Throughout the week, high-level panels and networking sessions will support dialogue between policymakers, experts, and local leaders.

The Forum will also promote international cooperation on land policies, supporting Colombia’s work on land redistribution, formalization, and restitution. It will emphasize the key role of Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and peasant communities, and connect land governance with biodiversity, sustainability, and food security.

Building Alliances

The Forum is supported by a broad coalition. The ILC’s global network brings strong experience in land rights. The Colombian government is aligning the event with its national goals on land reform and rural development.

The European Union has been a key partner, supporting land formalization and sustainable rural development in Colombia. CINEP, a Colombian research and advocacy organization, will coordinate civil society participation to ensure diverse perspectives are included.

Together, these actors are creating a space for global learning and commitment to inclusive land governance.

What’s Next

The 2025 Global Land Forum is more than a conference. It sets the stage for the Second International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, to be held in Colombia in 2026. This follow-up event will continue global dialogue on fair and sustainable rural development.

By hosting the Forum, Colombia brings the voices of its communities, the urgency of land justice, and a vision for a more inclusive future.

More information

If you would like to know more about these initiatives, or want to get in touch with the Agricultural & Biodiversity team, please contact us on bog-lvvn@minbuza.nl (for Colombia and Ecuador) or lim-lvvn@minbuza.nl (for Peru).

For more general information, you can visit agroberichtenbuitenland.nl